Agarunov and Rivet Lead Laredo to Game One Win

2008 Ray Miron President's Cup Playoff Bracket

Three Stars:
1. Adam Rivet (LAR)
2. Igor Agarunov (LAR)
3. Jeff Bes (LAR)

Laredo-Odessa Game One Box Score

Laredo, TX – The Laredo Bucks began the defense of their Southern Conference crown on Saturday night with a 4-2 win over the Odessa Jackalopes in front of 7,987 fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center.  The win gives Laredo a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven conference semifinal series.

After a scoreless first period, the Bucks started the scoring just 46 seconds into the second frame with Chris Stanley setting up Adam Rivet.  The Jackalopes would tie the score with a power play goal from Alex Dunn at the 13:18 mark but the tie wouldn’t last long as Igor Agarunov took advantage of the power play with his first of two goals in the game giving Laredo a 2-1 lead after one period.

In the third period, Mike Rutter tied the game less than three minutes into the period but a determined Bucks team regained the lead with Jeff Bes scoring the game winner at the 12:17 mark of the third period.  Agarunov’s second goal came at 18:25 and it put an end to the Jacks chances in the opening game.

Laredo dominated on the shot board out-gunning the Jacks 46-24 in the game.  Alexandre Vincent turned away 42 shots in his fourth straight solid start for Odessa who defeated Austin two games to one in the opening round best-of-three series that concluded on Thursday night.  Dustin Traylen earned the win stopping 22 shots.

Game two is set for Monday night at the LEC.  Face-off is scheduled for 7:05 PM (CST).

Notebook: Each team went 1 for 6 on the power play…Laredo had a 34-11 shot lead through two periods but Odessa won the third period 13-12…Alex Goupil led the Bucks with nine shots on goal but he did not find the back of the net…Adam Rivet finished with a goal, two assists and a game-high +3…James Hiebert had two helpers…The Odessa trio of Dominic Leveille, Sebastien Thinel and Olivier Proulx combined for just one assist.